•C h a p t e r T h i r t y - T w o•

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Song for chapter thirty two: Strange Love by Halsey

|Skyler|

"I can't believe it's Monday already," I sighed heavily, peering out the window from the passenger's seat at Aden's car. This morning he'd insisted that he would come pick me up from my house after he left the hospital, even though I was fine with walking to school like I had been for the past two months.

His bruise was barely prominent and I assumed that Aden covered it up with some sort of make up.

"Only four days left," Aden cringed as he got out of the car. His body was still rigid as he stepped out, and it was clear he didn't want to talk about his dad.

"Wait, I almost forgot," I grabbed the coffee cup that sat in the cup holder as I shut my own door behind me. "I made you an espresso," I grinned proudly at my own handiwork that I'd whipped up in the few minutes I had at the apartment this morning. I hoped it would somehow make his day better.

His eyes darted from the cardboard cup in my hand and then back to me. "Thanks Clumsy," his lips twitched up in a small smile.

"So... is your dad okay?" I asked, glancing over at Aden cautiously. I'd spent much of the morning worrying for Aden, hoping that his dad would be fine. I knew first hand how bad it hurt to lose a parent — and how much it still hurt — and even though they had their differences, Aden only had his dad to lean onto.

His face was void of any emotion. "He'll be fine, he's used to it at least," he almost spat the last part out. He seemed unbothered, but maybe it was because this had happened many times before.

"Was it just minor injuries?" I pressed on, letting my curiosity take over.

"The guys who busted into the apartment jumped him on the street. He's got some bruises and a minor concussion," he explained as we began walking. "He said he was just about to pay them back bit by bit, like that'd actually happen."

Aden was hell bent on the fact that his dad wouldn't change, but there was no way he wouldn't. Not when his gambling addiction had now seriously gone out of hand.

We headed towards the school, climbing up the steps as he slipped his hand into mine. My heart skipped a beat as we made it to the front steps.

I gripped onto his hand tighter, "He will pay it back." I didn't know for sure, but after what just happened, his dad would be an idiot not to.

"Yeah, he will if he's smart. At least he still has a real job outside of being a gambler," he shook his head, sighing. "How can you love and hate someone at the same time?"

That was a good question. One that may never be answered. Aden pushed open the door, letting me in first before following after.

"Will those men come back?" I couldn't hide my shaky voice.

Aden glanced over at me, squeezing my hand tighter as we walked. "No, not if my dad actually pays them on time," he offered me a small smile and I let out a relieved breath.

I didn't realize what a big deal Aden holding my hand apparently was because as I looked up, I saw Ava's gaping expression as she stood by her locker.

Her mouth was wide open, before it morphed into a slight scowl as she slammed her locker door shut and strutted away.

Oof.

I barely had to turn my head when I spotted Austin across the hall, standing with a group of guys I recognized from the soccer team. As if he had sensed our presence somehow, he turned around, his eyes trailing down to where my hand was connected with Aden's.

His jaw noticeably clenched when he made eye contact with me, though his eyes seemed emotionless. Austin shook his head as he turned his back to us again.

Double oof.

"We have an audience," I glanced up at Aden, shrinking slightly, suddenly feeling as if everyone in the school was watching, even though rationally I knew that it wasn't true. No one actually gave a damn. As I'd expected when I glanced around the hall, everyone was concentrated in their own thing.

Aden followed my eyes to where Austin was standing with his group of friends. A few of them turned back, making direct eye contact with us.

"Just ignore them," Aden sighed, turning back to me and I nodded. "Besides, they should know that you're my girlfriend now," he smirked, leaning down to press a long kiss on my forehead. My cheeks heated up from the contact and also since he used the 'g' word.

I was glad that his mind was no longer on his father.

"I have math first so I'll see you later," I gave Aden's hand a small squeeze when we pulled apart and and he nodded in response.

"Wait," he said behind me, pulling me back by the hand as he pressed a quick kiss on the square of my lips. I melted into it for the second that it lasted. "Not without a kiss."

Needless to say, I grinned like an idiot as I made my way to the math wing just as Aden went to join Ryan at his locker.

I sat down at my seat when I made it to my math class, where Josie already was, taking out her own books. I ignored the butterflies that still fluttered in my stomach. She was her usual stylish self, dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and plaid shirt.

"Seriously, I didn't know it was such a big fucking deal that Aden and I are dating," I huffed as I sat down.

Josie's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Who made a big deal of it? No one gave a crap about me and Ryan."

"Ava," I answered instantly as I opened my own bag to take out my math textbook. "Oh yeah and Austin."

Josie snorted, "That's cause Ava is in love with Aden, girl can't take a hint and Austin likes you."

I'd never actually realized Austin liked me, but now as I thought back to what Austin said to Aden at the hiking trip, I realized Josie was probably not far off, if not she was correct. But I didn't like Austin in any way, and it wasn't like I had lead him on. After what he tried to do to me at the party, and what he said to Aden at the hiking trip, I didn't want anything to do with him.

"Thank fuck I'm the only one who likes Ryan, no competition there," she chuckled and I gawked at her.

The bell sounded throughout the school, and just like every math teacher, ours stood up and immediately began teaching. Preaching about how we were behind schedule.

Chemistry passed quickly with a boring lesson as well, though it was somewhat interesting to see Austin glaring at the back of Aden's head every time I turned around. Aden, of course was oblivious, not that I expected him to notice anyway, he's a guy after all.

Aden held my hand under the table for most of the class, which I would have loved more if it didn't distract me from the lesson so much. I gripped it tightly, hoping that somehow it would distract him from worrying about his dad.

Five minutes before the bell, Mr. Carter dismissed us from the lesson — which was unusual since he was one of those that talked until the very end.

"Coach has ordered an emergency soccer meeting," Aden sighed as we stood up from the table. "He's probably pissed since half of us missed the last two practices for the trip."

"Oh," my face fell when it hit me that he would be absent for lunch. "Well, I'll see you in gym class."

I didn't want to seem like the clingy girlfriend who couldn't separate from her partner. But in my defence, we were still in the honeymoon phase since we'd been together less than a week.

"Yeah, in like half an hour," he grinned at my disappointed expression. He leaned forward, pressing a light kiss onto my lips. "See you soon, Clumsy. I gotta go." He pulled away and I watched as he slipped out the classroom door.

The bell sounded for lunch just as my stomach grumbled and I headed to the cafeteria. I rolled my eyes at the large crowds of people standing and chatting as if they hadn't seen their friends an hour ago.

Seriously, move to the side when you talk.

Like always, I had a lunch packed since fries and chicken fingers got repetitive after a while. I decided to take a pit stop at the bathroom so that I wouldn't be awkwardly sitting at the table by myself while Josie went to get her lunch.

I walked in, just as a bunch of girls brushed past me out of the bathroom, all whispering and giggling at something. None of them even realized that they'd almost bulldozed over someone.

Rolling my eyes, I weaved around them expertly and turned into a bathroom stall, attempting to shut the door behind me when an arm stuck out and pulled it back open.

I almost groaned. What can a girl do to take a piss, there's other stalls available. My irritation only deepened when I saw who was on the other side of that door.

Ava stood on the other side. Her make up and hair was perfect like usual, this time done in two French braids that swung back and forth like a pendulum as she moved. She had plastered on her face what would've been a kind smile, if it reached her eyes.

I blinked at her, "Can I help you?"

"Oh I just wanted to tell you what a cute couple you and Aden are," she continued to smile as if she were on a toothpaste commercial.

Lies, definitely lies. I found myself thinking since I vividly remembered the scowl she held on her face this morning as Aden and I walked into the school.

"Thank you, that's nice of you to say," I choked out, pursing my lips as I tried to close the stall door again. I couldn't remember the last time I'd faked something so hard.

Wait, never mind I faked my way through physics and math all the time, god knew how I managed to pass those classes.

Ava reached out, pushing it back open, simultaneously taking another step closer towards me. The flimsy door slammed against the stall.

"It's just I'm surprised he's actually exclusive with you," she leaned against the side of the wall — as if it weren't tight enough already — tilting her head to the side. "I mean like come on, he's Aden. He's never done relationships before, just a bunch of flings. I just don't want you to get hurt like all the other girls before you."

"Other girls?" I raised an eyebrow. This is getting interesting.

Her eyes lit up, as if she was glad I had probed for more information. "Yeah, like there's so many before you. Like Mckenna—"

"And you, perhaps?" I cut her off.

She scoffed, "No, of course not. I would never..."

"Hmm thought so, have a nice day, Ava," I smiled at her, shutting the door to the stall — yet again. She didn't stop me this time, only scoffing as the door closed.

I heard a soft sigh from the other side of the door, her sneakers were still visible from under it. "Look, I've liked Aden for as long as I can remember. I guess... if he really does like you... well... then I hope he'll be happy. I hope everything goes well."

I couldn't see her expression, but it seemed genuine enough. I watched as her feet disappeared from under the door, the sound of her footsteps fading away as she left the bathroom.

I huffed, unlocking the door and stepping out again.

So much for taking a piss. I thought as I left the washroom. Ava, thankfully was nowhere to be seen as I walked out and I scurried down to the cafeteria to avoid any other distractions.

I frowned to myself, silently wondering if there was truth to what Ava said. I was way too new to this school to know for sure if Aden had many flings with other girls, though I did remember Josie saying on my first day that Aden had never been in a relationship — which was true to Ava's word.

Maybe, I was giving her to much credit. The green eyed monster just creeped out on her when she saw Aden and I together. She'd had a crush on him for years — way before I'd even moved here. I'd be mad too if my crush ended up with another girl. However, I admit I wouldn't have cornered anyone in the washroom.

I tried to push away my thoughts, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder if Ava was somewhat right. If I was just a fling to Aden and nothing more.

If anything, Aden didn't need me around. He had enough problems to deal with on his own, with his dad and he most definitely did not need my baggage on his shoulders too.

Okay now you're just being an idiot, he still liked you and asked you out after he found out about mom.

That thought soothed my spiralling brain. Though, one question bugged me more than I'd like to admit: who was McKenna, and who was she to Aden?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you all liked this chapter! Do vote and comments if you did!!

This chapter was a bit short, but at the same time it needed to happen. I try not to have any filler chapters just because they make me angry sometimes.

Sooooo McKenna? It's pretty obvious who she was to Aden right?

~SweetnessInTheSalt

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